Fig. 1

a Lesion site evidenced by the presence of L4, L5, and L6 ventral roots (arrows). The longitudinal incision was made above these roots (dotted line). Scale bar = 1.0 mm. b Lesion site after MSC application. Note that the region is completely covered by the DMEM + MSC solution. c Cresyl violet-stained spinal cord. There is a wide unilateral lesion at the ventral funiculus and fewer motor neurons in the ipsilateral ventral horn than in the contralateral side. Scale bar = 200 μm. d HE staining showing the ventral funiculus region. The notorious presence of several nuclei stained with eosin, showing cellular infiltration at the lesion region. Scale bar = 50 μm. e High magnification of HE staining. Cavitation points (asterisk) and “Gitter” cells are noted. Scale bar = 100 μm